Bank, insurance employees to join Sep.7 all India strike

MUMBAI - Banking activities across the country could be affected Sep. 7 as employees of state-run banks have threatened to join the day-long general strike called to highlight issues affecting the common people like inflation and unemployment.

“The strike is being organised to protest issues affecting the common masses like inflation, unemployment, divestment in public sector undertakings, violation of labour laws and protection to the unorganized sector,” said Vishwas Utagi, general secretary, All India Bank Employees Association, in a statement here Monday.

Prior to the strike, a convention of all major national and state level trade unions will be held in Mumbai Aug. 30 to chalk out the strategy, he said.

The convention will be addressed by Sanjiva Reddy (MP) of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta (MP) among others.

While nearly five crore employees from the organised sector are expected to join the strike and another 45 crore from the unorganized and informal sectors will take part, Utagi claimed.